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Round 4 - Reaches?

Ok, this was a weird draft for me...I didn't do a ton of research before hand and I wasn't around for...ANY of the draft really (just got the family back from Disney last week).

Let me start by saying I liked our draft as a Solid, Not Spectacular one. Upshaw was the only "exciting" pick. Everything else was just good value to plug holes. Most sites seem to say KO should be able to start at OG and Pierce was a good RB choice. Streeter was a good sleeper pick, our 7th round DT was kind've a throwaway as most 7th rounders are, and the Cal Poly CB should be a good returner...

But Thompson and Gradkowski, our Round 4 picks, are being labeled among the big reaches by DraftCountdown.com. I knew Gradkowski was a bit of a reach...heck, GRADKOWSKI HIMSELF was taken back by the early pick, he wasn't even paying attention to the draft yet (http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...ext%7CHome%7Cs). Didn't think Thompson was a big reach, but he was taken before Iloka, who was widely considered the 2nd best FS in the draft.

So, what do people think of these two? I've seen good scouting reports on both which say that Gradkowski just needs seasoning at C but could be a starter in time, while Thompson is listed as a good rangy ST who could become a serviceable starter in time. But I've also seen that Gradkowski was graded as a 6th or 7th rounder, while Thompson was graded around 6th round.

Do you think we reached for these two need picks?

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“When I think of a Baltimore Raven - we go in there, we take your lunch box, we take your sandwich, we take your juice box, we take your applesauce, and we take your spork and we break it. And we leave you with an empty lunch. That’s the Baltimore Raven way.” - Steve Smith Sr.

Re: Round 4 - Reaches?

Ok, this was a weird draft for me...I didn't do a ton of research before hand and I wasn't around for...ANY of the draft really (just got the family back from Disney last week).

Let me start by saying I liked our draft as a Solid, Not Spectacular one. Upshaw was the only "exciting" pick. Everything else was just good value to plug holes. Most sites seem to say KO should be able to start at OG and Pierce was a good RB choice. Streeter was a good sleeper pick, our 7th round DT was kind've a throwaway as most 7th rounders are, and the Cal Poly CB should be a good returner...

But Thompson and Gradkowski, our Round 4 picks, are being labeled among the big reaches by DraftCountdown.com. I knew Gradkowski was a bit of a reach...heck, GRADKOWSKI HIMSELF was taken back by the early pick, he wasn't even paying attention to the draft yet (http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...ext%7CHome%7Cs). Didn't think Thompson was a big reach, but he was taken before Iloka, who was widely considered the 2nd best FS in the draft.

So, what do people think of these two? I've seen good scouting reports on both which say that Gradkowski just needs seasoning at C but could be a starter in time, while Thompson is listed as a good rangy ST who could become a serviceable starter in time. But I've also seen that Gradkowski was graded as a 6th or 7th rounder, while Thompson was graded around 6th round.

Trade-down of the weekend: Baltimore trading 29 overall for 35 and 98 overall. In this business, you have to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Ozzie Newsome does. The Ravens had crushes on two players late in the first round -- Dont'a Hightower and Kevin Zeitler. The cost to trade up from 29 was too steep, the Ravens thought, and so they dealt back six spots with Minnesota and got the guy who even the dumbest mock- and real-drafters had in the first round, Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, at 35. At 98 comes Delaware guard Gino Gradkowski, who could transition to a long-term center (and successor to Matt Birk). When I called around over the weekend asking for players GMs and coaches liked, the brother of Bruce Gradkowski came up a few times, and he'll have the chance to solve a long-term problem for a gritty offensive team.

Re: Round 4 - Reaches?

Ok, this was a weird draft for me...I didn't do a ton of research before hand and I wasn't around for...ANY of the draft really (just got the family back from Disney last week).

Let me start by saying I liked our draft as a Solid, Not Spectacular one. Upshaw was the only "exciting" pick. Everything else was just good value to plug holes. Most sites seem to say KO should be able to start at OG and Pierce was a good RB choice. Streeter was a good sleeper pick, our 7th round DT was kind've a throwaway as most 7th rounders are, and the Cal Poly CB should be a good returner...

But Thompson and Gradkowski, our Round 4 picks, are being labeled among the big reaches by DraftCountdown.com. I knew Gradkowski was a bit of a reach...heck, GRADKOWSKI HIMSELF was taken back by the early pick, he wasn't even paying attention to the draft yet (http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...ext%7CHome%7Cs). Didn't think Thompson was a big reach, but he was taken before Iloka, who was widely considered the 2nd best FS in the draft.

So, what do people think of these two? I've seen good scouting reports on both which say that Gradkowski just needs seasoning at C but could be a starter in time, while Thompson is listed as a good rangy ST who could become a serviceable starter in time. But I've also seen that Gradkowski was graded as a 6th or 7th rounder, while Thompson was graded around 6th round.
Do you think we reached for these two need picks?

Here's why I'll say NO. The Ravens chose Gradkowski @ #98 (3rd pick in 4th round) knowing Ben Jones and Philip Blake (who were both drafted soon thereafter) were still available. Chris Thompson was chosen 37 picks prior to George Iloka. So I must believe that the Ravens picked their guys with a purpose. They didn't make a mistake, they just rated GG and CT higher than the other well known names... Bc

"Reaches" is a media term, used by people who can't wrap their head around the fact their mock draft board got blowed the eff up.

WARNING: This post may contain material offensive to those who lack wit, humor, common sense and/or supporting factual or anecdotal evidence. All statements and assertions contained herein may be subject to literary devices not limited to: irony, metaphor, allusion and dripping sarcasm.

Re: Round 4 - Reaches?

Ok, this was a weird draft for me...I didn't do a ton of research before hand and I wasn't around for...ANY of the draft really (just got the family back from Disney last week).

Let me start by saying I liked our draft as a Solid, Not Spectacular one. Upshaw was the only "exciting" pick. Everything else was just good value to plug holes. Most sites seem to say KO should be able to start at OG and Pierce was a good RB choice. Streeter was a good sleeper pick, our 7th round DT was kind've a throwaway as most 7th rounders are, and the Cal Poly CB should be a good returner...

But Thompson and Gradkowski, our Round 4 picks, are being labeled among the big reaches by DraftCountdown.com. I knew Gradkowski was a bit of a reach...heck, GRADKOWSKI HIMSELF was taken back by the early pick, he wasn't even paying attention to the draft yet (http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...ext%7CHome%7Cs). Didn't think Thompson was a big reach, but he was taken before Iloka, who was widely considered the 2nd best FS in the draft.

So, what do people think of these two? I've seen good scouting reports on both which say that Gradkowski just needs seasoning at C but could be a starter in time, while Thompson is listed as a good rangy ST who could become a serviceable starter in time. But I've also seen that Gradkowski was graded as a 6th or 7th rounder, while Thompson was graded around 6th round.

Do you think we reached for these two need picks?

I would have done quite a few things differently in this past draft...although I can say that after every draft as the Ravens rarely do what I want them to on the 3rd day every year.

But who's grades? The media's?

That same guy on that same site...despite enjoying the site myself...thought Flacco was a reach in 08.

Re: Round 4 - Reaches?

Originally Posted by BcRaven

Here's why I'll say NO. The Ravens chose Gradkowski @ #98 (3rd pick in 4th round) knowing Ben Jones and Philip Blake (who were both drafted soon thereafter) were still available. Chris Thompson was chosen 37 picks prior to George Iloka. So I must believe that the Ravens picked their guys with a purpose. They didn't make a mistake, they just rated GG and CT higher than the other well known names... Bc

Well put, i'll also say they took two guys that seem to have alot more upside then the popular picks at their respective positions...Gradkowski is said to be very athletic on top of being a smart and physical player....Thompson has nice size and measurables and has physical mentality, he certaintly seem to have FS ability but also SS toughness

Re: Round 4 - Reaches?

Reaches cause they went to smaller schools?
Ravens have a few starters from smaller schools
Flacco, Webb, Williams, Birk and in the past Scott and Chester Taylor.
Tons of great players went to small schools vJax, TO, Phil
Simms the list can go on forever. Locally Megget,Bushrod, Raymond Chester, Bruce Laird.

Re: Round 4 - Reaches?

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

Didn't think Thompson was a big reach, but he was taken before Iloka, who was widely considered the 2nd best FS in the draft.

George Iloka may have been widely considered the 2nd best FS in the draft, but not by the Ravens. They liked Thompson a lot. According to DeCosta, "Christian was a player that we identified early. I think he was probably one of our favorite defensive players, and certainly one of the favorite defensive players on the coaches' board this year . . ."

Iloka is 6'4", 225; Thompson is 6'0", 210, so both are pretty good sized guys for the position. Both are big hitters, but Thompson is the faster and more mobile player, which was probably a key factor for the Ravens. Actually, the Ravens were surprised he was still on the board at that point. I was hoping the Ravens would get him in the 6th round, but there was a lot more interest than I thought.

I also don't think Gino Gradkowski was a reach from the Ravens' board perspective. Yeah, the mock drafts had him going later, but apparently he was also drawing interest from a lot of teams.

Remember, the 4th round picks were 98 and 130 (an untradable comp ppick) and the next pick was also untradable (5th round comp, #169). If the Ravens didn't take Gradkowski with #98 it was likely they wouldn't get him at all. From that perspective he wasn't a reach.

It isn't as if they weren't thought of highly by big college football programs, either. These guys may have been from small schools, but one was a transfer from Auburn (Thompson) while the other was a transfer from West Virginia (Gradkowski).

Re: Round 4 - Reaches?

Ok, this was a weird draft for me...I didn't do a ton of research before hand and I wasn't around for...ANY of the draft really (just got the family back from Disney last week).

Let me start by saying I liked our draft as a Solid, Not Spectacular one. Upshaw was the only "exciting" pick. Everything else was just good value to plug holes. Most sites seem to say KO should be able to start at OG and Pierce was a good RB choice. Streeter was a good sleeper pick, our 7th round DT was kind've a throwaway as most 7th rounders are, and the Cal Poly CB should be a good returner...

But Thompson and Gradkowski, our Round 4 picks, are being labeled among the big reaches by DraftCountdown.com. I knew Gradkowski was a bit of a reach...heck, GRADKOWSKI HIMSELF was taken back by the early pick, he wasn't even paying attention to the draft yet (http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...ext%7CHome%7Cs). Didn't think Thompson was a big reach, but he was taken before Iloka, who was widely considered the 2nd best FS in the draft.

So, what do people think of these two? I've seen good scouting reports on both which say that Gradkowski just needs seasoning at C but could be a starter in time, while Thompson is listed as a good rangy ST who could become a serviceable starter in time. But I've also seen that Gradkowski was graded as a 6th or 7th rounder, while Thompson was graded around 6th round.

Do you think we reached for these two need picks?

DeCosta said alot of their guys were coming off the board and they had to improvise some. Maybe these 2 were improvisees